I tap my foot impatiently, waiting for the school bell to go off. I hate waiting around, especially when wolves from the three nearby packs are amongst the humans waiting outside the gates, it makes me anxious.692Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAoZtP1mrG
We've only been living in this town for two months, and I already feel the urge to be on the move again. I can't though. Robin finally put his foot down and demanded to go to school, claiming that he doesn't want to end up like me when he was older. I don't blame him.
Olydia followed in her brother's footsteps and had adapted so well to school life that I don't want to pull them away. Of course, there's the option of them staying whilst I continue on, but these kids need me; I'm all they have.
Faye gets cranky in my arms, starting to squirm and chewing on the straps of my backpack. I inwardly curse, remembering the teething pain gel on the kitchen counter. She'll just have to struggle on. I feel the eyes of other parents- wolves and humans alike- watching me with disgraced looks.
How can such a young mother be so incapable of keeping her baby comfortable?
The joke's on them. I'm not their mother- I'm their older sister- and I've done a hecking great job of raising them on my own. I don't know many other seventeen-year-olds who has never been to school but manages to keep down three jobs whilst looking after their three siblings. I smile smugly; let them stare.
The bell finally rings and Robin is the first kid to fly out of the gates, knocking over two six-year-olds as he searches for me. I shift Faye to one arm and wave my arm, "Over here, racer!"
He nearly careens straight into me, making some other parents step away from us like we are a nuclear accident waiting to happen. "How was school, kiddo?"
Robin's expression turns sheepish, "Miss Poll wants to speak to you."
Great. "Go find your sister." I push him away as I notice the slender, young teacher approaching me. She's a wolf, from Airstone Pack, if I have to guess. I tighten my hold on Faye as if doing so will further hide our scents that identify us as rogues.
"Miss Taylor?" The lady asks, noticing Faye and cooeing at her before looking up at me. "I'd like to discuss Robin's behaviour in class today."
"What's he done now?" I ask, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. You'd think Robin would be a good student considering he begged me to send him to school, but you're wrong.
"I understand that he is slightly older than his peers, but he doesn't realise how much stronger he is than them." The teacher's smile is gentle and I find myself struggling to keep my cool. "Today I had to break up a fight, but Robin managed to wind a fellow student so hard that he was sick."
"I'm sorry." I say, remembering one of mum's lesson to always apologise first. "I'll speak to him about it, and it won't happen again."
Her smile falters slightly, "Miss Taylor, that's the third time he has harmed another student this term."
Yeah, that's because Robin's becoming an adolescent wolf who has no control over his emotions or fists. If we were in a pack, there would be mentors to help him, but all Robin has is me, and it's not like I'm the most emotionally stable person in the world.
I go for the easiest card I can play, "He hasn't had the best start in life, Miss Poll."
Her expression melts into one of sympathy and understanding. "Of course, Miss Taylor. Can I suggest you make an appointment with a behavioural specialist? I think it would be beneficial for all of you."
"I'll consider it." I say, already knowing that seeing a specialist is out of the question. The last time I tried to take Robin into a hospital, he bit a nurse. As he grows strong and more in tune with his wolf, things will only get worse.
He'll struggle to trust everyone like me.
With one last smile, the teacher walks away towards the male headteacher who's also from Airstone Pack. I instantly know they're mates by the way they talk to each other, and my stomach clenches. I hate watching mates; it makes me feel sick.
The headteacher glances back at us and I dart my gaze to Robin who's pulling on Olydia's hand. The blonde girl tugs against her brother, trying to speak to her friend, but Robin is only getting more frustrated by her refusal.
"Let go." I tell him, shortly and sharply. One look in my eyes and he releases her. "Ready to go, Oly?"
"Briony, can Nancy come around for tea?" Olydia begs, gesturing to the ginger girl beside her. Thankfully, the girl is a human.
I don't even try to look apologetic, "Maybe another time, Baby Doll. I have to work tonight, remember?"
"But... But..." Olydia looks up at me, pouting.
"No buts." I say, making my decision final. "You can blame your brother for giving me a short temper. Now, let's get going."
I walk away, knowing I don't need to wait for them. Soon enough, Olydia is by my side, tugging on my hand that wasn't holding Faye. I really need to find- or steal- a pram at some point. Robin walks on my other side, kicking stones along the path.
"Don't do that." I tell him before lowering my voice, "I nearly got caught when I got from the shoe store, and I don't want to make a second trip."
Robin starts to walk normally, "When can I come out at night with you, Bri?"
I will never understand why he's so fascinated by the concept of stealing. I used to hate it when my parents would pick pocket or loot abandoned stores, but Robin enjoys hearing about my late night antics of sneaking around in the shadows. Well, my robbery at the pharmacy two nights ago was less than subtle, but I panicked because Faye wouldn't stop crying, and she's usually the calmest of my three siblings.
"When you're old enough to think with your head instead of your fists." I glance down at him, "We need to talk about your classroom etiquette, young man. Do you know how embarrassing it is for your teacher to speak to me after school?"
I raise an eyebrow at him, waiting for an answer, and he shows me his neck in response. "I'm not your Alpha, Robin, I'm your sister. Use your big boy words and tell me why you punched someone today."
Olydia tightens her grip on my hand. It always makes her nervous when Robin gets in trouble. The blonde boy looks up at me, "He stunk."
Classic. "Which pack?"
"Firestone."
Fabulous.
It isn't too hard to distinguish the three packs apart from their smells, and Robin is getting the hang of it.
Waterstone smelt like salt water as they lived near the beach, Airstone had a polluted smell- like heavy traffic combined with woodsy aromas- and Firestone smelt like hot coal. None of them are particularly awful smells, but I like Firestone's the best. Sometimes, I get a hint of boiling caramel sauce when I'm near them, but Robin claims that my nose is broken because I've kept us all scentless for so long. I can't even remember what we used to smell like.
"Robin, I think you need to learn some responsibility for your actions." His head snaps up to mine, "I'm going to stop shielding your scent and you're going to do it yourself. It'll be up to you to protect your identity so you can see how much I have to go through to keep us safe."
Fear quickly builds on his face, "I don't know how to shield my scent,."
"Then you better learn." I half-lie. I will never allow him to be in charge of shielding his scent- but he's at the age where he needs to understand the risk of picking fights with other packs. "I'd killed a wolf when I was your age, Robin."
This isn't exactly true either. I was fourteen at the time, and the wolf had been tackled by mum and dad, but they gave me the final kill.
We pile into the elevator of our apartment building and get halfway down the corridor when I stop in my tracks. Robin growls beside me and says, "Wolf."
Not only that, but it's also an Alpha, and they're standing outside our apartment by the smell of things.
"Let me do the talking." I tell my siblings, Robin more than Olydia because the latter is too shy to speak to strangers. Faye stops complaining in my arms and I would've given her to Robin but I think the Alpha might give me a chance to explain if he sees the baby.
I sniff the air as we get closer: it's the Firestone Alpha. I've never met him, but I know he's trying to track me down, hence the note I left on his car the night before.
We round the corner, the foreign wolf coming into view. He's slightly younger than middle-aged, possibly the eldest of the Stone brothers who are in charge of the three packs around Burnham. I have a feeling he isn't outside our door because he managed to track me down, judging by his uniform. He's at work.
In this town, wolves are in charge of everything, despite the population of humans being higher than our kind. The Mayor is Michael Stone, and his three sons are all Alphas of different packs. Firestone manages law enforcement, Waterstone are in charge of health services and Airstone handle education. Now you know why I try to avoid those services like the plague.
"Good afternoon, Officer." I call out, making him look up in surprise as he hasn't smelt us. "What can I do for you?"
"Miss Briony Taylor, I presume?" He asks, putting his thumbs through his belt loops. His entire demeanour screams Alpha and a normal wolf would bow to him instantly, but I'm no normal wolf. "Is it alright if we have a chat?"
"Of course." I smile, unlocking the door to my apartment, "Go inside, guys, get out of your uniforms. Robin, take Faye." With the children out of the way, I turn back to the policeman. "Sorry, was it Officer..."
"Stone. Jesse Stone." He tells me. "Sorry to bother you, Miss Taylor, but a neighbour filed a noise complaint for last night at around 0100."
Ah shoot.
"I work nights, Officer Stone." I did work nights, but not last night.
Last night, Robin had thrown a tantrum because everyone in his class had a yo-yo, so I had to get one for him. I was much more careful than I was the night before at the pharmacy, and I doubt the police even know that the toy shop had been robbed.
"That's what I presumed." So, he thinks I'm a prostitute; great. "Nevertheless, Miss Taylor, I do have to fine you."
"A fine?" I repeat, shocked. "For a noise complaint?"
"Yes." For an Alpha, he doesn't seem to mind being challenged, but he probably deals with ignorant and disrespectful humans every day. "It's £150, ma'am."
My eyebrows shoot up, "Are you having a laugh?" That's at least eight seven-hour shifts in the café.
His expression hardens, "No."
I chuckle, "£150, bloody hell, I won't ever make a sound at night again." I push my door open, "I'll go and get my wallet." I already know that I don't have £150, but I may have my parents' last known address, so I'll forward the bill there.
The officer doesn't say anything, watching me as I entered my apartment. I know he will see the filthy sink with a bucket beneath it to catch leaks, the table with three crooked legs and the mattress on the floor because I can't afford to get Faye a cot, but he remains silent. Thankfully, Robin has taken the teething gel off the counter.
"Briony." Robin stands up, Faye in his arms- Olydia has probably hidden herself away in the closet. Next to my thirteen-year-old brother is the pistol that dad left, and it's loaded.
"Put that away!" I hiss, slinging my rucksack onto the table to conceal the weapon as I dig through it, trying to find my wallet.
"You can pay electronically, ma'am." Comes the voice from just inside the doorway. I panic, shielding our scents even more and praying the state of our apartment doesn't raise any suspicions. "Not many people carry around that much cash."
"What does he want, Bri?" Robin hisses. Now is a good time for a mind link, but you can't have those unless you belong to a pack. The moon goddess truly hates rogues like us.
"Nothing of your concern." I whisper, walking back towards the officer and putting on a tight smile, "That would be great, sir, thank you."
The Firestone Alpha looks around our apartment with a shocked expression on his face. He turns back to me, "Is it just you living here with your children, Miss Taylor?"
"I'm not their mother." I tell him, already despising the look of sympathy on his face, "I'm their sister." Honestly though, I'm short and Robin is nearly as tall as me. Did the Alpha really think I birthed these kids?
He raises a brow, "And your parents?"
"Gone, but I take care of them well, sir." I say, before he can suggest a referral to social services like dozens or teachers and doctors have done.
"I'm sure you do, ma'am." He pulls out a notepad to write the ticket for my fine but something stops him. "Actually, I think I'll let this little incident slide." He rips off the page, scrunching it into a ball just like the note I left last night.
Maybe he'll taking my advice and leave me alone. Then again, he doesn't know that I'm the rogue that has been terrorising this town for supplies that my family needs to survive.
"Thank you, sir." I breathe, smiling, "It won't happen again; I promise." I walk him to the door, "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
He pauses, "Actually, Miss Taylor, there may be something. You said you worked nights, yes?" I nod, "Well, we've had a few burglaries occurring at night over the past month. If you see something out of place, please report it to us." He scribbles something onto another page of paper, "Here's my direct number."
"Thank you." I accept the piece of paper. There's some writing on it- that I can't read- followed by a list of numbers. "This town's lucky to have such dedicated officers, sir. I hope you find the thief."
"Me too." He murmurs, and I have a feeling that I'm not meant to hear that. "Good day, Miss Taylor."
I shut the door behind him, sliding down the wall in relief. It uses up a lot of my energy to shield all of our scents, but it isn't something that I can just turn off. The nearby packs see me as a threat, and nothing will ever change that.
"Briony?" Olydia whispers, peering out from her and Robin's room. "What did the strange man want?"
"He was a police officer, Baby Doll." I tell her, knowing how little she trusts men. "Nothing to worry about. He's just trying to keep the community safe."
She comes further out of the room and frowns, sniffing the air, "He was one of us."
"You're right." I push myself to my feet. Time is ticking on, and I need to walk across town to get to my night job, "Now, have you got homework that needs doing?"
Olydia looks down at her feet, "I did it at lunch."
"Oh, you clever girl." I walk over and kiss her forehead. "Why don't you draw me a pretty picture for when I get back?"
Olydia has attachment issues- caused by our parents- so she doesn't like to be too far from me or Robin. When I had to leave her at home for work, it was best to have her occupied with something before I leave, and it's not like we have a TV for easy entertainment.
"Okay." She says, running back into the single bedroom that she and Robin share a bed in.
I sigh, looking around my apartment that costs all of my income every month, hence why I have to steal to get food, clothes and medicine. This isn't the life I wanted, but it is the life I chose after my parents left us for good.
Robin is aggressive and violent, always getting in trouble and growling whenever someone tells him off. Olydia is shy and scared of anything new, who knew what Faye was going to end up with? Heck knows I have my fair share of issues.
I want more from life than running away from packs and stealing to feed my family. I want to go to college and study psychology or sociology, get a high-paying job and a three bedroom house. My dreams are unrealistic. I'm more likely to be mated to an Alpha than get an education.
At night- when I'm not working- I borrow Olydia's school books and try to teach myself how to read and write, but it's hard. The only writing I understood is things that I can memorise, such as our address, the menu at the café and questions on job applications. Apart from that, I'm illiterate.
"There's a microwaveable meal in the fridge." I tell Robin, pinning back my hair as I get ready to leave. "Only needs five minutes or so."692Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZEdlc1VCh
The microwave was the only kitchen appliance we own besides the mini fridge. The oven and stove came broken with the apartment, and even the tap has its off days. I've become quite the plumber in the last few weeks. We don't even have cutlery, but we're used to eating with our hands from going cross country with our parents.
"Are you going to eat as well?" He asks, bouncing Faye on one knee whilst doing his maths homework with the other hand.
"I'm good." I rub my forehead, remembering that I need to get more food in the next day or so. "If I'm not back by two, what do you do?"
"Hide in the loo with the gun ready to shoot." Robin replies, still looking down at his work. I smile at the stupid rhyme we came up with when we first started living in civilisation rather than in the woods.
"See you later, racer!" I shut the door behind me, locking it and then sliding the key through the letterbox. I remember the fine I nearly got and keep my steps light on the echoey staircase. I can probably find the complaining neighbour and make a threat or two, but I don't need to cause any more trouble in this town.
I'm on too many hit lists already.
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